Making your tables stand out

I get a lot of questions from brides asking for suggestions/ways to dress up a table. A simple white linen is always clean and classic, but sometimes you may want to go the extra mile and really add some pop to you venue. I'm constantly being told, "Rentals are SO expensive..." Well, not necessarily. There are actually some affordable linen companies out there, and your caterer will likely have a considerable selection of place settings and flatware. If you want to make it a little more customizable, consider having your linens or accents made -- we happen to have a few seamstresses in our Rolodex that do an incredible job, but if you are close to someone who knows their way around a sewing machine and has expressed interest in helping you with your wedding, why not ask? I've always said its the smallest details that make the largest impression. A stunning tablescape will definitely blow the level of "wow factor" through the roof.

Case in point:

Take a look at this table setting. This table did double duty for us -- we used it at a community event here in Holladay this weekend (hence the interesting accompanying decor, amateur photography and horrendous lighting), but it also served as a demo table for a bride who's deciding her designs for her rehearsal dinner the night before her wedding. Its got to be one my favorite that we've done in a long time. Since we coordinated every aspect of this table, I'll break it down for you:

Linens: A simple white tablecloth is instantly upgraded when paired with a luxurious black dupioni silk table runner and custom-made, pique hot pink fabric napkins. To dress it up a little more, consider adding white chair slipcovers with pink or black chair ties.

Place setting: The plates and salad bowls are actually from Target. $1.99 each. No joke. Since they have such a bold pattern, it frees you from needing an elaborate centerpiece. The stemware and flatware are as basic as you can get, keeping things clean and understated instead of competing with the other pieces. The favor was a frosted take-out box filled with pink and white M&Ms and tied with a sheer black bow.

Centerpiece: Two antique mercury glass pillar holders with white candles are accompanied by a mass of hot pink spray roses in a simple silver-plated mint julep cup. (The pillar holders are part of our rental inventory) I suppose you could also add some white votives, but I tend to like things as clean as can be, especially when working with contemporary elements.

Inexpensive, but unique and memorable. Have YOU given much thought to how you can make your tables stand out? If not, take a second to do so. If you need to bounce some ideas off someone, we're always happy to help!